A Terrible Somersault

In England, at the Brooklands motor track, a race was being held, the Val d'Or race. During the event, spectators witnessed an accident, fortunately more sensational than serious in its results, and the likes of which even the oldest regulars at the track had never seen.
One of the cars entered was traveling at over 180 kilometers per hour. It was driven by Major C. G. Coe. On the last lap, he attempted to overtake the car in front of him and veered slightly to the right. Suddenly, one of the rear wheels grazed the railing. The car immediately skidded, reared up, spun three times, and crashed a little further on into a pile of sand. But what is no less extraordinary is that, in this terrible somersault, the pilot and his mechanic were thrown from their seats and were thus lucky not to be crushed under the machine. Before the ambulance service rushed to their aid, the two men had gotten up, safe and sound, suffering only minor bruises.